Art, Social Change & Engaging Immigrant Communities | NYFA

This panel sought common ground among voices that weave together art and social change strategies in their engagement with immigrant communities. At that intersection, we brought together dynamic figures from the fields of art and culture, social justice, human rights, and grantmaking to discuss how they connect, support, and collaborate. The panel began with a performance by Judith Sloan, Co-creator with Warren Lehrer of Crossing the Boulevard: strangers, neighbors, aliens in a new America and Co-founder of EarSay. The panel was then moderated by Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, Director of the Culture, Creativity and Communities Program, Urban Institute. The panelists were Heidi Boisvert, Multi-Media Manager, Breakthrough; Christine Gaspar, Executive Director, Center for Urban Pedagogy with collaborator Sean Basinski, Director, Street Vendor Project; Carlos A. Martinez, Colombian-born Artist and Activist; and Iris Morales, Executive Director, Union Square Awards. This program was the second in the 2010 IAP fall series of Cultural Community Events for Immigrant Artists.